Pointe Coupee 911 battling financial shortfall

Parish officials say Pointe Coupee's 911 dispatch center has been in its own state of emergency for quite some time and annually struggles with funding shortfalls.

According to the 2011-12 operating budget for the parish's 911 system, The Advocate reports ( http://bit.ly/UvyTYM) it took over $819,000 to run the system during the year. However, the tax-based system that funds the center generated only $498,000 in revenues during that period.

The more than $300,000 budget shortfall was relieved through supplements from the police jury and the sheriff's office.

Keith Davidson, the former chairman of the 911 Commission, presented a new funding plan to the police jury in December.

Davidson said about $500,000 could be generated annually if every business and residence in the parish pays a $50 per year 911 user fee.